Meghan Bauer and her Blake teammates are the No. 2 seed with a 14-2 record. The Bears meet Stillwater on Wednesday.

Kyndell Harkness, Star Tribune file

First-time winner assured in boys' side of lacrosse tournament

Article by: RON HAGGSTROM

Star Tribune

June 4, 2012 - 10:34 PM

The state high school lacrosse tournament is only six years old, but there has been a major breakthrough on the boys' side: Not one of the four teams in the semifinals has ever won the title.

Three of the teams in the field have accounted for all of the previous runner-up trophies. They are the top three seeds, No. 1 Eastview (2009), No. 2 Totino-Grace (2010) and No. 3 Eden Prairie (2007, '08 and '11).

As much as things have changed on the boys' side, the same can't be said for the girls' field.

Top-seeded Eden Prairie and two-time defending champion Blake have met for the state title in each of the previous five years, and appear to be on a collision course again.

The Eagles won the crown in 2007 and '09 and Blake in 2008, '10 and '11.

Eastview: The Lightning scored four unanswered goals in the fourth quarter to beat rival Eagan 8-7 in the section final. Junior Ryan McNamara scored the last two, and will have to be reckoned with at state.

Edina: The Hornets are playing better of late after winning only three of their first 13 matches. Edina is making its first state tournament appearance. Junior Derek Todd (47) and senior Danny Regan (30) have combined for 77 goals.

Totino-Grace: The Eagles count on their depth. They have seven players in double figures for goals, led by senior attacker Franklin Nesser's 32. He also has 23 assists.

Apple Valley: The South Suburban Conference runner-up is playing in the state tournament for the first time. Senior middie Hannah Segar leads the way for the Eagles with 98 points, including 65 goals.

Blake: The Bears are battle-tested. They have played all three of the semifinalists. They defeated both Apple Valley and Stillwater, but dropped a 14-8 decision to Eden Prairie.

Eden Prairie: The squad, coached by Beth Patterson and Judy Baxter, topped Lakeville North 18-11 in the season opener. The Eagles have not allowed more than eight goals in a game since, while scoring double digits in all but one contest.

Stillwater: The Ponies are making their second consecutive state tournament trip. They lost to Eden Prairie 14-10 in the semifinals a year ago.